>> this is "bbc world news america." the taliban continued to attack nato forces, but one u.s. senator tells us american troops must leave the country even sooner. a long march across africa for these somali refugees. the threat of drought and civil war has driven them to desperation. >> we can scale up our operation to meet the growing need. this crisis could turn into a catastrophe. >> and a royal welcome in one of canada's most remote regions. the duke and duchess of cambridge get a taste of the great outdoors. >> welcome to our viewers on pbs

in america and to our viewers across the globe. stop bombing, stop fighting, and joined the political process. that is what the british prime minister, david cameron, asked the taliban today. but even as he spoke those words on the second day of his visit to afghanistan, for nato's silk -- for nato soldiers were killed. which all begs -- which all begs the question, what happens when foreign forces withdraw? >> british troops drop in. it's an area the taliban used to control. no longer. nato is pushing out. that is what you can do when 10,000 british troops have been reinforced by 20,000 americans. so far, the british soldiers

have not run into any opposition. usually when the insurgents see nato coming in strength, they retreat. but not always. so no one takes any chances. afghan police lead the searches. nato believes afghan candy -- afghans can deal with their own people better than foreign troops. by 2015, the idea is they will do it alone. one of the villagers hope things will improve without the insurgents around. >> the taliban steals food. i'm very poor. if i protest, they say you support nato. >> this is what progress lookalike in afghanistan. so much so, there is to be a further cut in british troops with a few hundred soldiers. but native troops still far

outnumber the afghan troops. what is needed to hand over a village like this to the local troops altogether? >> a regular police presence. that's what we need. regular patrolling. people of confidence to be able to come and talk to the police. >> but in this village, the police seemed willing to help themselves to food, just like a taliban. they did find a taliban and decisions-in a melon patch. -- a taliban munitions patch they were sniping at the soldiers operation we joined. the afghan forces lacked much and british officers say privately they are -- there is still a big problem with corruption. nato's deployment has peaked. the question now is will the afghans be able to do the job of the british soldiers have been doing as they start to leave?

>> that is the question indeed. on the ground, the fighting continues. in washington, three american senators, three -- two democrats and one republican pended op-ed in the "new york times" which called for a more rapid withdrawal of all american combat troops. tom udall is among those arguing the case. thank you for joining me. you criticize president obama for not bringing back american troops fast enough from afghanistan. what would you like him to do? >> the thing we have to realize is the thing we went in with objectives. those objectives were displacing a government that was harboring terrorists. terrorist camps, al qaeda was hooked up with them, and osama bin laden was in the region. now we have an elected

government, we have completely changed the landscape, we have trained approximately 400,000 afghans in terms of army and police. al qaeda is decreased to about 100 low-level fighters. we're talking about a sob and lot and being brought to justice. my basic position and there are a number of senators who signed a letter for a swifter and quicker withdrawal. it is a handoff, is what it is, to the afghans we have changed -- we have trained. what we would like to see done is move in the direction to hand this off. >> are you worried that the taliban is sitting in afghanistan, reading the "new york times" and saying the americans, the political will is gone for this mission. the americans are going to leave

and we will just sit them out. we have no interest in negotiating a settlement. >> you could argue the same thing for cameron's deadline and the president's deadline. nothing is going to change. you can start tomorrow or year from now, but the same things are going to be taking place on the ground. the corruption, the lack of will of the government, the lack of will of the army and police to really step up. but when you give them a deadline, nothing focuses the mind and the energy of our troops and the leaders by saying you've got about 12 to 18 months to hand this off to the afghan police and army and for them to take over. then you don't drift around like we are doing now. >> you wrote in your piece today that the mission has largely been achieved. what happens if you are wrong? what happens if nato forces withdraw, the taliban move back in in substantial numbers, and

bailout al qaeda once again to have a safe haven in afghanistan. it is a possibility. >> i'm not saying the united states and nato withdraw from the region. continue to be diplomatically engaged, economically engaged. we should have a counter- terrorism effort in the region. we have seen how effective the drones at other counter- terrorism efforts can be without having a large footprint in terms of troops on the ground. that is the better strategy. >> the center, thank you for joining us. the worst drought in decades is forcing thousands of families in east africa to walk for days to find help in refugee camps. the un says some very young children are dying before they get there. rains have failed for the past three seasons at more than 12 million people are facing dire

shortages of food, shelter and health services. our reporter sent us this report. >> day after day, mile after mile, they walk and walk. these are the people of the drought. but there also escaping from somalia's and less civil war. they track vast differences across land where it no longer seems to reign. some are sick like this six- month old. some will die along the way. the people we came across today are all from the same village in somalia. what they carry is all they possess. >> the journey was too long. we have no food. no water. threats from wild animals, all kinds of suffering. >> this group of villagers has

been walking for five days to get here. others have traveled for far longer than that. but others are like -- all of them are looking for the same thing -- food, water, medical supplies, and pleading for help from international community. when they arrive at the refugee camp, they are desperate. but this place has been overwhelmed and aid workers are struggling to cope. the u.n. say they gave it -- they give basic rations to everyone who comes here. but some refugees claim they wait for days or weeks without getting any proper food supplies. >> unless we could get humanitarian aid into this part of the world and scale operations to meet the growing need, this crisis could turn into a catastrophe. that is what we have to stop. >> the most vulnerable are the malnourished children have just arrived. often, they die within a day or

so of getting here. so, the graveyards are filling up fast. mainly it is children and babies buried here. families to come in search of food and water have found death instead. >> heartbreaking images there from east africa. in other news, casey antony was found not guilty of killing her 2-year-old daughter in florida. she was killed of first-degree murder. her daughter was missing in june of 2008 and was found dead at three months later. the medical examiner was unable to determine how the child died. syrian security forces are reported to have shot and killed at least six anti-government protestors. this comes and the second consecutive day of clashes there. tanks were continuing to surround the city but have not

entered it. authorities are attempting to reassert control. now was not the time for short- term debt solutions. that is the warning from president obama today as he pressed lawmakers to resolve their differences over how to reduce the deficit and raise the debt ceiling. with the clock ticking, our economics editor assesses just what is at stake. >> this was supposed to be the start of america's summer holiday -- the independence day weekend. but not this year, not for the politicians. they still have to find a way from preventing the world's richest economy from defaulting from its -- defaulting on its debt in a few weeks' time. tonight, the president told to stop messing around. >> it is my hope that everyone will leave their ultimatums at the door and we will all leave the political rhetoric at the door and we will do what's best for our economy and do what's best for our people. i want to emphasize -- i said this at my press conference --

this should not come down to the last second. >> the current limit on the federal debt was set last year at $14.3 trillion. with more than $100 billion in new borrowing agreement, the government will hit that ceiling at the start of august. but republicans will not let the a destruction borrow more without massive spending cuts. >> president obama will talk a good game and assert his virtuous with regard to spending but then not propose anything and ridiculed those who propose cuts. at the same time, he calls for tax increases and almost every republican has signed a pledge not to increase taxes. >> the markets are worried that america's deficit is still going up. one ratings agency said the u.s. could lose its aaa credit rating. but there are good and bad ways to cut borrowing. no one wants america to stumble into a default. >> u.s. government debt is the building block of the global

financial system. it is vitally important for the plumbing of the global financial system. avoiding a default is absolutely essential. >> the result of a default could be so cataclysmic that everyone in washington expects the two sides to eventually do a deal. but they are taking it very close to the wire. the whole battle has raised questions about america possibility to sort out this budget at a difficult time for the economy. real incomes have not risen at all this year and unemployment is still over 9%. the president does not want to get rushed into steep spending cuts that make a weak recovery even weaker in the lead up to an election. >> that is their bottom line. absolutely don't increase the cuts coming next year and hopefully find which you can give the republicans to by yourself last cut next year. 2012 has to be the center of his attention. >> and the other side has 2012

in its sights as well. >> we need to stand up to barack obama's massive deficit spending. >> america is not about to default on its debt, but it tells you something about the political debate that 70% of the population does not want to raise the debt ceiling to let the government may go on spending commitments congress has already passed. it's not an easy time for politicians on either side to do the right thing for the budget or the economy. >> you are watching "bbc world news america." still to come -- a british tabloid becomes the story after allegations "news of the world" hacked into a phone from eight murdered schoolgirl sparks political uproar. today, the survivors of the massacre in sure beneath an elite dutch appeals court ruling as a significant ruling. they felt responsible -- or

found responsible for the death of three muslim men. >> sure beneath the, july 1995, a so-called u.n. safe area. one that was overrun by bosnian serb forces led by radical lavage. the bosnian muslims thought they had had the protection of dutch u.n. peacekeepers. they were wrong. about 8000 muslim men and boys were massacred by the bosnian serbs. today, in a surprise legal ruling, a court in the netherlands decided that government bore some responsibility. the presiding judge said the appeals court believed the dutch state had acted illegally toward free bosnian muslims and would have to pay compensation. it has been a long, painful legal ordeal for the relatives of the victims. >> i am after the killers of my

family, the serbs, who lived in bosnia. one of them works and the same building where i work. can you imagine that? i have to go to my office every day to the same building and he is still there. believe me, it's just one of the cases i have been dealing with for the last 10 or 15 years. >> the families who filed a lawsuit because the three bosnian men killed at been working for the dutch u.n. peacekeepers. the outcome of the case surprised even the lawyers. 16 years after the massacre, this court ruling about the three men who were turned over to the serbs could have applications for similar cases against the dutch state. >> for years, the news of the world, britain's top selling sunday tabloid and part of rupert murdoch of global media

empire at news corp. has been dogged by claims of phone hacking. now the story has taken another twist. today, prime minister, david cameron, spoke of his shock over allegations that a mobile phone belonging to a young british girl murdered nine years ago was hacked into by a private detective working for the newspaper. >> for months, this scandal has been growing and growing as more and more celebrities and politicians aren't formed their phones had been hacked. but now, and much more serious allegation has shocked the country. a 13-year-old went missing in 2002. her body was found six months later. the latest claim is that the news of the world packed into her phone while she was missing and some messages may have been deleted in the process. david cameron, who is on a trip to afghanistan, made his

feelings clear. >> if they are true, this is a truly dreadful act and a truly dreadful situation. what i read in the papers is quite, quite shocking, that someone could do this, actually knowing the police were trying to find this person and trying to find out what had happened. >> this puts more pressure on the president's friend, rebecca brooks. she is the editor of "news of the world" when the girl went missing. she, like other former executives at the paper, has always said she did not know about the actions of a few rogue reporters. "news international was "says she is as shocked that anyone -- as shocked as anyone else. but she says she does not intend to resign. >> she has been clear today that is what she will not do. this happened in 2002 and she's chief executive of a company in

2011 and she is absolutely determined to get to the bottom of this issue. >> but the political heat has been turned up on record murdoch's news empire. the house of commons will debate the latest allegations on wednesday. opposition politicians say they want a full inquiry set up. they think rebecca brooks should go. >> its more than a wrote reporter. was not just one individual. this is a systematic things that happen. what i want is to start taking responsibility for this. >> it is not just "news international" with difficult questions to answer. the police said a phone hacking was used to target just a handful of celebrities. the latest claims prompt more uncomfortable questions about whether a blind eye was turned at scotland yard. >> for more on this uproar and the culture which surrounds the

british tabloids, i spoke with a reporter from one the best of this as a result of a unique issue with british tabloid journalism. >> i think there is a different newspaper culture. the national enquirer in america is about as close as you are going to get to some of the tabloid tone that we have in our best selling newspapers. i suppose if you imagine the national enquirer was the best- selling newspaper in america, he would have the understanding of the state of journalism here. >> what are the pressures on reporters and editors to come up with stories like this and sail close to the legal wednesday to separate >> immense. -- close to the legal winds to do this. >> demands. we are in a situation or circulation is falling and there is a battle for readers. that pushes people ever closer to the legal line and the moral

line and ethical line of journalism. as we have seen with these latest revelations, hacking into the phones of murder victims, a child murder victims, it's terrible, but most tabloid journalists in this country would be that shocked because it's a very a moral culture. we disney to get the story and we don't care how we will get it. it is not the reporters fault. the reporters are there so much pressure from their superiors to get results and if they don't get them, they are out the door. >> to some extent, the public in britain has gone, understandably, has become upset about this particular story. but aren't readers complacent in all of this? what it comes to tittle tattle about celebrities, we are quite happy to have their phones tapped into. >> we get the press we deserve,

in britain, america, or anyone else. people buy these papers. the desire for gossip about celebrities is growing every year. as a newspaper owner, you can understand to a degree why they fill more and more of their paper with it. the problem is that it undermines real issues and democracy because they get pushed out. real stories about what is occurring in government and local politics get pushed out to make room for what one celebrity is wearing on the beach. >> will the police step in now that this has come to light? >> i think so. a lot of focus was put on the police and their behavior. more focus should be on the relationship between our prime minister, david cameron, and senior executives of news international, like rebecca brooks. they are very cozy. they live near each other, they have lunch together. given the current climate and

current allegations floating about, david cameron would do very well to distance themselves. >> while that is the scandal and the talk of london, in canada, it is the duke and duchess of cambridge to continue to command all of the attention. today, the couple traveled to one of the most remote regions, 250 miles south of the arctic circle. they were greeted with music and dance by native tribes people. our royal correspondent has this story. >> the sound may be familiar, the setting a less so. they are here for a taste of canadian life -- half of the population are a rap -- our aboriginal and 11 languages are spoken. prince william tried his hand at a few. >> we are so excited to be here. [applause]

thank you very much. >> this is a vast area with few inhabitants. but a few of them are here to see the couple being referred to as mega celebrities. >> i haven't drank anything for three days. there's no bathrooms here. >> it's nice to see them personally. i'm just lucky. >> we are up in the north, who would have thought it would have come up here for us? this is great. >> the finalists in the indian princess of canada contest wore on parade for prince charles and princess anne. it was the '70s, he was a difference, and you'd -- and it was a different age. 40 years on, williams challenge was to take part in a game of street hockey. the polo-playing the prince will have to keep practicing. it does not really get darkest

that year and that gives them a chance to travel by sea plane and can do into the forests and freshwater lakes to experience canada's great outdoors for themselves. >> one final story before we go -- for some of us, packing a suitcase is tough enough when all you are packing is close. this woman faced a more difficult task of packing her husband. mexican police say this 19-roll was caught trying to sneak her husband out of prison following a routine visit. when officers checked inside, they found the inmate crawled up in the field position. the 19-year-old woman has been arrested. i feel rather sorry for the husband. that brings us to the end of the broadcast. you can find all of our updates on our web site. for all of us here, thank you for watching.

>> make sense of international news at bbc.com/news. >> funding was made possible by the freeman foundation of new york, stowe, vermont, and honolulu. newman's own foundation. and union bank. >> union bank has put its global financial strength to work for a wide range of companies. what can we do for you? >> "bbc world news america" was

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